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1979 Macdonald Lassies Championship
Host city Mount Royal, Quebec
Arena Town of Mount Royal Arena
DatesFebruary 25–March 2
Winner  British Columbia
Curling club North Shore WC, North Vancouver
Skip Lindsay Sparkes
Third Dawn Knowles
Second Robin Wilson
Lead Lorraine Bowles
Finalist  Manitoba ( Chris Pidzarko)
«  1978
1980 »

The 1979 Macdonald Lassies Championship, the Canadian women's curling championship was held February 25 to March 2, 1979, at the Town of Mount Royal Arena in Mount Royal, Quebec. This was the last women's championship to be sponsored by Macdonald Tobacco and also the first event to feature a playoff.

Team British Columbia, who was skipped by Lindsay Sparkes won the event by defeating Manitoba 7–4 in the final after also finishing first in the round robin with an 8–2 record. This was BC's fourth championship overall and the second skipped by Sparkes, who also won in 1976. The Sparkes rink also went on to represent Canada in the inaugural Women's World Curling Championship, the 1979 Royal Bank of Scotland World Women's Curling Championship which they lost in the semifinal to eventual champion Switzerland.

Event Summary

Through the first eight draws of the tournament, British Columbia was sitting at the top of the standings with an unbeaten record of 7–0, Nova Scotia and Quebec were tied for second with 6–2 records, while Newfoundland sat at 5–2, Alberta right behind at 5–3, and Manitoba (who started 1–3) and Saskatchewan both sitting at 4–3.

Draw 9 saw the playoff situation become clearer. Manitoba handed BC their first loss of the tournament 5–4, Quebec defeated Newfoundland 5–4, both Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia cruised to victory in their matchups while Alberta drew a bye. With two draws remaining, there was a good chance that at least one tiebreaker would be required but also a chance that tiebreakers wouldn't be needed to determine playoff spots.

Unknown at the time, the penultimate draw (Draw 10) early on Friday would be the beginning of a long day for several teams. Newfoundland would defeat BC 9–8 while Saskatchewan and Manitoba were both victorious as well. Alberta defeated Nova Scotia 9–1 in only six ends and Quebec drew a bye. Alberta's victory guaranteed that a tiebreaker playoff would be required as Nova Scotia drew a bye in the final draw. Heading into the final draw of round robin play, two very important matchups were on the horizon with the BC/Quebec matchup winner getting a direct bye into the final and the loser joining Nova Scotia and the Alberta/Saskatchewan winner in the tiebreakers with the loser of Alberta/Saskatchewan being eliminated. Newfoundland and Manitoba would both need to win in order to be in the tiebreaker playoff as well.

The final draw would see BC would clinch a spot in the final with a 6–3 win over Quebec while Saskatchewan eliminated Alberta from contention with a back-and-forth 11–9 victory. With both Newfoundland and Manitoba cruising to victories, this meant that Manitoba, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan were all tied for second place with 7–3 records requiring three tiebreaker games to determine two semifinal berths.

The tiebreaker matchups would feature Newfoundland vs. Quebec and Nova Scotia vs. Manitoba. The Nova Scotia/Manitoba winner received one semifinal spot while Saskatchewan would play the Newfoundland/Quebec winner for the other semifinal berth.

In the first round of tiebreakers Thursday evening, Newfoundland jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two ends in their game against Quebec and never looked back for a commanding 9–3 victory in nine ends while Manitoba scored three in the fifth to take command in an 8–5 victory over Nova Scotia to advance to the semifinal. The second round of tiebreakers late Thursday night saw a high-scoring affair between Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. Despite playing their fourth game of the day and trailing 10-8 after eight ends, Newfoundland scored three in the ninth to take the lead and stole one in the tenth for good measure and advance to the semifinal with a 12–10 victory.

The four games the previous day would end up taking a toll on Newfoundland in their semifinal matchup with Manitoba as Manitoba controlled the game early and dominated the tired Newfoundland rink 10–2 and meet BC in the final for their eighth win in a row after starting 1–3. The final would see BC dominate Manitoba for a 7–4 victory in nine ends as BC led 5–1 after the halfway point and 7–2 after seven ends. The victory gave Sparkes her second title and a spot in the inaugural women's world curling championships.

Teams

The teams are listed as follows: [1]

Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick
Lethbridge CC, Lethbridge

Skip: Myrna McQuarrie
Third: Barb Davis
Second: Gayle Pilling
Lead: Diane Smummach

North Shore WC, North Vancouver

Skip: Lindsay Sparkes
Third: Dawn Knowles
Second: Robin Wilson
Lead: Lorraine Bowles

Stony Mountain CC, Stony Mountain

Skip: Chris Pidzarko
Third: Rose Tanasichuk
Second: Iris Armstrong
Lead: Patti Vande

Bathurst CC, Bathurst

Skip: Anne Orser
Third: Pat Maher
Second: Elvera Kennah
Lead: Shirley Gammon

Newfoundland Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island
Carol CC, Labrador City

Skip: Sue Anne Bartlett
Third: Patricia Dwyer
Second: Joyce Narduzzi
Lead: Mavis Pike

CFB Halifax CC, Halifax

Skip: Penny LaRocque
Third: Brenda Shutt
Second: Colleen Jones
Lead: Charmaine Murray

Boulevard CC, Toronto

Skip: Pat Reid
Third: Sandi Norton
Second: Carmel O'Malley
Lead: Lynda Stoyka

Community CC, Crapaud

Skip: Elayne Thompson
Third: Ruth Cutcliffe
Second: Louise Thompson
Lead: Julie Robinson

Quebec Saskatchewan Northwest Territories/Yukon
Baie-D'Urfé CC, Baie-D'Urfé

Skip: Lorraine Bowes
Third: Faye Gardiner
Second: Joan Brown
Lead: Barbara Donnelly

Granite CC, Saskatoon

Skip: Barb Despins
Third: Lynne Fuller
Second: Elaine Farkas
Lead: Diane Lynn

Hay River CC, Hay River

Skip: Margaret Whitlock
Third: Marion Clifford
Second: Delaine Kardash
Lead: Amber Schroter

Round Robin standings

Final Round Robin standings [1]

Key
Teams to Playoffs
Teams to Tiebreakers
Team Skip W L PF PA
  British Columbia Lindsay Sparkes 8 2 80 43
  Nova Scotia Penny LaRocque 7 3 71 58
  Saskatchewan Barb Despins 7 3 77 63
  Manitoba Chris Pidzarko 7 3 73 53
  Quebec Lorraine Bowes 7 3 77 58
  Newfoundland Sue Anne Bartlett 7 3 81 56
  Alberta Myrna McQuarrie 6 4 79 63
  Ontario Pat Reid 3 7 49 65
  New Brunswick Anne Orser 1 9 45 89
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon Margaret Whitlock 1 9 44 86
  Prince Edward Island Elayne Thompson 1 9 48 90

Round Robin results

Source: [1]

Draw 1

Sunday, February 25

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 0 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 7
  Quebec (Bowes) 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Ontario (Reid) 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 X 5
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 4 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 X 8
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X 3
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 3 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 1 0 2 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 9
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 8

Draw 2

Sunday, February 25

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 X 5
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 3 0 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 X 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 1 3 0 0 1 1 1 3 X X 10
  Ontario (Reid) 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 X X 2
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Quebec (Bowes) 3 4 1 0 2 0 2 X X X 12
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 X X X 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 X X X 1
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 2 0 2 1 2 3 1 X X X 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 2 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 2 9
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 8

Draw 3

Monday, February 26

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X X 1
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 X X 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 X 5
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 2 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 X 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 1 0 3 0 1 1 1 0 X 7
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 0 0 1 0 1 X X X X 2
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 1 2 4 0 4 0 X X X X 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 1 0 0 4 3 0 1 X X 9
  Ontario (Reid) 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 X X 3

Draw 4

Monday, February 26

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 7
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 6
  Ontario (Reid) 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 0 2 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 X 4
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 1 0 X 8

Draw 5

Tuesday, February 27

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Ontario (Reid) 0 0 0 2 2 1 3 0 2 X 10
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 1 0 1 2 1 0 3 0 0 X 8
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 X 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 9
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 X 8
  New Brunswick (Orser) 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 X 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 0 0 4 1 0 3 0 2 1 11
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 2 1 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 9

Draw 6

Tuesday, February 27

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 4 0 0 3 0 2 1 1 X X 11
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 X X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 1 0 2 0 1 2 1 0 2 X 9
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 X 5
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 3 0 0 1 0 2 3 2 X 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Ontario (Reid) 0 2 0 2 1 1 1 0 2 X 9
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 X X 5
  Quebec (Bowes) 2 0 5 0 4 0 0 2 X X 13

Draw 7

Tuesday, February 27

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 3 9
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 X 4
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 X 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 7
  Quebec (Bowes) 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 4 1 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 X 6
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 5 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 X 6
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 0 1 3 1 0 3 0 4 X 12

Draw 8

Wednesday, February 28

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Quebec (Bowes) 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 4
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 3 X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 X X 4
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 1 2 0 0 3 0 3 0 X X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 4
  Ontario (Reid) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 X X 2
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 2 1 0 3 0 2 1 2 X X 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 5
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 7

Draw 9

Wednesday, February 28

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 0 3 1 0 3 1 0 1 X X 9
  Ontario (Reid) 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 X X 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  New Brunswick (Orser) 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 X 6
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 5
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Final
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 5
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 X 4
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 2 0 0 3 4 0 0 0 2 X 11

Draw 10

Thursday, March 1

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 1 0 0 3 2 0 1 1 0 8
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 3 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 2 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 X 11
  New Brunswick (Orser) 2 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 X 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Ontario (Reid) 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 X 4
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 1 X 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 1 0 0 0 0 0 X X X X 1
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 2 1 2 3 1 X X X X 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 5
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4

Draw 11

Thursday, March 1

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 1 0 0 3 3 0 2 1 0 1 11
  Alberta ( McQuarrie) 0 2 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 3 1 0 6 0 1 X X X X 11
  Prince Edward Island (Thompson) 0 0 1 0 1 0 X X X X 2
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 3 0 1 2 0 1 3 X X X 10
  Northwest Territories/ Yukon (Whitlock) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 X X X 2
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 X 6
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Ontario (Reid) 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 X 5
  New Brunswick (Orser) 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 X 4

Tiebreakers

Five teams were tied for second, therefore there were three tiebreakers. The two remaining teams advanced to the semifinal. [1] [2]

  Winners to Semifinal
    
  Saskatchewan 10
  Newfoundland 12
  Newfoundland 9
  Quebec 3
  Nova Scotia 5
  Manitoba 8

Round 1

Thursday, March 1, 6:30 pm

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 1 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 X 9
  Quebec (Bowes) 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Nova Scotia ( LaRocque) 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 X 5
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 0 2 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 X 8

Round 2

Thursday, March 1, 10:00 pm

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Saskatchewan (Despins) 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 0 10
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 3 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 3 1 12

Playoffs

Semifinal Final
1   British Columbia 7
2   Manitoba 10 2   Manitoba 4
3   Newfoundland 2

Semifinal

Friday, March 2, 9:00 am

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 1 0 2 2 0 2 1 2 X X 10
  Newfoundland ( Bartlett) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 X X 2

Final

Friday, March 2, 2:00 pm

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  British Columbia ( Sparkes) 0 2 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 X 7
  Manitoba ( Pidzarko) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 X 4

References

  1. ^ a b c d "1979 Macdonald Lassies". Curling Canada Stats Archive. Curling Canada. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. ^ Phillips, Randy (March 1, 1979). "Quebec lassies come back". The Montreal Gazette. p. 45. Retrieved 24 February 2023.